Hospitals and Remote Patient Monitoring

The dawn of Covid-19 served as a reminder that hospitals and healthcare systems must evolve to accommodate advanced medical facilities. Doctors and nurses are on the frontline, dealing with life-threatening diseases at all times. There are also patients in remote areas who are suffering due to a lack of adequate medical attention.

With technological development, we can minimise the risk they face as well as facilitate services to off-location patients. The evolution of medical practices is a necessary step to impose on India’s healthcare services, in order to control the growing need. There are a few steps that can be taken to ensure fewer casualties in the country.

Restructuring the Healthcare System

This is an inevitable next step towards creating an effective healthcare system in India. By employing the use of technology coupled with awareness programs, we can make India the most influential country in terms of healthcare. This requires active participation from consumers and the medical field alike.

Now, the most important question arises. How to facilitate this transition so healthcare professionals can treat patients faster and more efficiently?

Interoperability of Data

Technological developments in the field of medical sciences rely greatly on data. The collection and processing of patients’ medical history and personal details are important to formulate treatment plans. Unfortunately, the current medium of data collection is primitive and does not support big data analysis, cloud computing, etc. That is why interoperability of data is vital for futuristic medical development. At present, most information is contained in incompatible devices and storage spaces. According to the phenomenon of interoperability, we must be able to facilitate a transfer of data from these primordial storage devices to cloud computing technology. This will help medical professionals access a patient’s information at any time from anywhere. The documents can also be correlated with big data and artificial intelligence to design effective treatment plans.

Patients can be monitored using telecommunication devices, mobile apps, wearable devices, etc. Artificial Intelligence programs can be designed to observe, examine, and evaluate patients’ health conditions to recommend suitable action.

Implementing Artificial Intelligence Programs and IoMT

The development of technology has eased many areas of life. It has expanded into every important sector that affects mankind. Now, with the development of Artificial Intelligence, people can perform previously unimaginable tasks – and that includes medical attention. Combined with the benefits of the Internet of Medical Things or IoT, the development of healthcare technologies is progressing quickly.

Artificial Intelligence is actively contributing to enhancing the medical field. Scientists and medical practitioners have incorporated the phenomenon to coherently work with Big Data and cloud computing. This enables prospective and existing patients to upload their medical history, vitals, and other important information. The AI program scans the data and finds any irregularities that need attention.

It benefits the patient and the hospital because

If the anomaly is minor then the AI program can recommend a suitable action to improve the patient’s health.
If it requires an in-depth diagnosis, then a medical practitioner can weigh in with expert advice.
Only if the anomaly cannot be treated remotely will the patient have to visit a hospital for personal medical attention.

Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote Patient Monitoring or RPM is a revolutionary step taken to ensure that patients get medical attention without constantly visiting hospitals and clinics. Some of the benefits it provides are:

Giving personal feedback to improve health

RPM is extremely consumer-centric. Their medical history is elaborate and must be checked in its entirety. With RPM, they can share valuable data for health assessment. All they need is access to a monitoring facility where the data can be uploaded in real-time. This includes the patients’ vitals, medical anomalies, allergies, current medications, habits, etc. The data can be evaluated by technology and be shared with physicians. Based on the analysis, a prophylactic course of action can be recommended. Patients can avail of these consultations from their home, or while they are on tour or vacation.

Increases the effectiveness of medical practitioners and hospitals

Medical practitioners can monitor patient data and recommend suitable courses of action. Due to access to accurate medical information, consultations are often error-free. Additionally, the data can be easily categorised to check for irregularities. It saves a lot of time that doctors and specialists can assign to the treatment of critical illnesses and major surgeries.

It is cost-effective

RPM is highly cost-effective. Considering a generous curve of 50% of the population, who can afford to use RPM services, hospitals can save an inordinate amount of resources. These funds and amenities can be allocated towards the treatment of other patients who require physical and personal attention. Hospitals that are investing in RPM technology will achieve a significantly higher return on investment. They can treat more patients in the long run which increases profits. Additionally, they save more time and money on paperless filing and transactions. Moreover, access to electronic health records (EHR) helps them provide treatments to external patients without the hassle of travel.

It is a futuristic solution

Statistical estimates indicate a 49% growth in the use of RPM technology. Scientists and medical practitioners are encouraging awareness of this incredible solution. As consumers learn and implement RPM technology, the medical revolution in India will result in fewer casualties and fatalities. Uploading the information through cloud computing will enable patients in remote places to avail medical attention. People can receive customised feedback and recommendations to improve their health and implement preventive measures.

Spreading Awareness and Educating the Masses about Self-care

This is an important step to improve the overall health and wellness in India. Covid-19 has proved that awareness and self-care are necessary measures to maintain a healthy life. In the aftermath of the mass casualties from the pandemic, people have begun to realise the importance of monitoring their health. This is encouraged with the use of smart devices that monitor heart rate, blood pressure, etc. More patients are actively turning to remote services for help and support.

It is also important to share medical advancements and information. The population of India, both urban and rural, must be well-informed about the latest developments in healthcare. They need to know what to do in case of an emergency, or how to approach a medical expert immediately when transportation is unavailable. These tips and news towards awareness can help patients and save millions of lives. The public also needs to be aware that their active participation in preventive care can help them in critical times. They must also know the convenience of RPM so they can avail services at all times.

Hospitals are adopting Remote Patient Monitoring techniques to enhance the overall health of the country. We need to understand and implement these amenities in our life to avail help whenever required.

The decisions taken by providers will be backed by more data points and trend analysis, rather than a single set of data as of now. This practice will enhance the prognosis of the patients for sure.

Remote Patient Monitoring will provide a base for future IPD admissions for the hospitals. From the spectrum of monitored patients, a fraction will take major procedures in the same hospital and contribute to the revenues.

Another advantage of RPM solutions is that it will allow hospitals to get the patient base from cities from adjacent states. The smart devices and monitoring solutions will magnify the reach and penetration of the hospitals.

MedTel: Innovating Solutions with Technology

MedTel’s tech-based approach in providing healthcare is rooted in connected care, RPM and interoperability of data. Our digital health platform is built on evidence-based algorithms that are device and EHR-agnostic. This ecosystem enables patients and doctors to connect in real-time to facilitate the delivery of customised healthcare solutions and real-time parameters monitoring.